Jays sign Pearce to 2 year 12.5 million deal

[metafour]

I don't know, why has he always done that?

 

He hasn't. He's been injured.

[crmr]

He hasn't. He's been injured.

 

Oh ok, sorry.

 

I just thought with a 25% k-rate and 331 babip in his best season vs RHP in 2014 and his otherwise solid (but not great) career made him more of a platoon

[Boxcar]

I don't know, why has he always done that?

 

Some guys just never get a fair shake. He started out on the bench for TB last year even though he turned out to be their best hitter. Then when he got traded, the Orioles opted for Alvarez/Kim/other s*** plus he hurt his elbow.

 

2014 was his breakout, bench player for at least half

2015 was a bit unlucky with his batted balls, relegated to bench

2016 started on bench, moved to FT and then back to bench after trade, got injured.

[TheHurl]

Oh ok, sorry.

 

I just thought with a 25% k-rate and 331 babip in his best season vs RHP in 2014 and his otherwise solid (but not great) career made him more of a platoon

 

He might sit against RH starters that throw cutters or something like that, but if there is a RH pitcher that mainly throws FB's, Smoak should be at 1B and Pearce in LF. Of course I don't have my Gibby thinkin' hat on right now.

[crmr]

He might sit against RH starters that throw cutters or something like that, but if there is a RH pitcher that mainly throws FB's, Smoak should be at 1B and Pearce in LF. Of course I don't have my Gibby thinkin' hat on right now.

 

Thanks.

 

That was mostly my point. It just seems risky to have him mostly penciled in when we don't know what he's going to do.

 

I like him as a platoon, I just think him being a full time guy isn't the best, since he's never really proven he can get it done and extrapolating based on 1 low babip (which an earlier poster wrote off) and 2 high babip seasons is risky.

 

It's the context of the signing I don't like, not so much the signing itself

[burlingtonbandit]

If the Jays don't get Fowler would you have Pearce be your leadoff hitter? OBP over .360 in 3 of his last 4 years and is around an average baserunner. I certainly prefer him over Travis.

[reedjohnsonfan]

Except that the entire fascination with Steve Pearce is that over a regular season's worth of at-bats, he's actually a great player. You WANT him to play a full season. We got him for so cheap because due to injuries he CANT play a full season.

 

A lot of players have been like that... it's intriguing, but not something the Jays should rely on. Of course, there's no clear indication they are planning on using him full time, so we'll have to wait and see.

[ScrappyCoCo]

Pearce isn't a fulltime player. If they don't sign some outfielders Jays aren't remotely close to what they were last year.

[TheHurl]

Thanks.

 

That was mostly my point. It just seems risky to have him mostly penciled in when we don't know what he's going to do.

 

I like him as a platoon, I just think him being a full time guy isn't the best, since he's never really proven he can get it done and extrapolating based on 1 low babip (which an earlier poster wrote off) and 2 high babip seasons is risky.

 

It's the context of the signing I don't like, not so much the signing itself

 

We do pretty much know what he'll do. that's why there are a million stats and projections in baseball.

[crmr]

We do pretty much know what he'll do. that's why there are a million stats and projections in baseball.

 

Oh ok, thanks.

 

I just thought because of his recent volatility in war (and war/game) that he might be a fairly uncertain player

[Terminator]

Pearce isn't a fulltime player. If they don't sign some outfielders Jays aren't remotely close to what they were last year.

 

Rest assured that the OF will be dealt with. Signing Pearce doesn't preclude that from happening.

[glory]

For the past three seasons, Pearce's wRC+ against RHP have been 142 ('14), 107 ('15), and 118 ('16). The notion that he is a platoon player is ridiculous. He's a big league starting position player at first base. He just hasn't had a full season's worth of AB's either because of injury or not being given a chance.

 

Start the man at 1B, try to keep him healthy, and soak in dat WAR.

[TheHurl]

Lets just take a look at Pearce's true injury history instead of just saying "he can't stay healthy"

 

May 2010 Sprained Ankle, landed him on the 60 day, cost him his entire season

May 30, 2011 Calf tear, activated July 22, 2011

August 23 2011 Fractured Right finger missed the rest of the season.

June 21 2013 Left wrist tenderness activated July 31, 2013, back on the DL August 31st and activated Sept 17.

July 22, 2015 strained left oblique, activated August 20

June 21, 2016 Strained Hamstring, Activated July 19

Sept 18, 2016 strained flexor mass in right elbow

 

It's not a pretty history...but really there haven't been repeat issues. If they are good with his right elbow...then I wouldn't worry. He has a history of muscle issues, so that might be a small concern but really we have no one to play behind Tulo and are paying him a f*** of a lot more and his history is more than spotty too.

[crmr]

For the past three seasons, Pearce's wRC+ against RHP have been 142 ('14), 107 ('15), and 118 ('16). The notion that he is a platoon player is ridiculous. He's a big league starting position player at first base. He just hasn't had a full season's worth of AB's either because of injury or not being given a chance.

 

Start the man at 1B, try to keep him healthy, and soak in dat WAR.

 

Very interesting, and great to hear. I actually just checked his career and he has a wRC+ of 100, with a very respectable line of 244/322. Also, he seems to be a net positive defender at 1b. Actually it looks like he could be a 2 war player (if he stays healthy), that would be great!

[Governator]

Lets just take a look at Pearce's true injury history instead of just saying "he can't stay healthy"

 

May 2010 Sprained Ankle, landed him on the 60 day, cost him his entire season

May 30, 2011 Calf tear, activated July 22, 2011

August 23 2011 Fractured Right finger missed the rest of the season.

June 21 2013 Left wrist tenderness activated July 31, 2013, back on the DL August 31st and activated Sept 17.

July 22, 2015 strained left oblique, activated August 20

June 21, 2016 Strained Hamstring, Activated July 19

Sept 18, 2016 strained flexor mass in right elbow

 

It's not a pretty history...but really there haven't been repeat issues. If they are good with his right elbow...then I wouldn't worry. He has a history of muscle issues, so that might be a small concern but really we have no one to play behind Tulo and are paying him a f*** of a lot more and his history is more than spotty too.

 

I just had flashbacks of Brandon Morrow.

[ScrappyCoCo]

Hes a decent signing for a utility role. I'm sure Jays will be limiting his playing time if he's injury prone. For the money the signed him for I don't think they expect too much from him other than better hitting against left handed hitting and playing occasional 2nd base and first base. Don't see him to play outfield all that much. Anyone that thinks he's going to be an everyday outfielder is kidding themselves. Its a good signing but isn't a great one

[burlingtonbandit]

Lets just take a look at Pearce's true injury history instead of just saying "he can't stay healthy"

 

May 2010 Sprained Ankle, landed him on the 60 day, cost him his entire season

May 30, 2011 Calf tear, activated July 22, 2011

August 23 2011 Fractured Right finger missed the rest of the season.

June 21 2013 Left wrist tenderness activated July 31, 2013, back on the DL August 31st and activated Sept 17.

July 22, 2015 strained left oblique, activated August 20

June 21, 2016 Strained Hamstring, Activated July 19

Sept 18, 2016 strained flexor mass in right elbow

 

It's not a pretty history...but really there haven't been repeat issues. If they are good with his right elbow...then I wouldn't worry. He has a history of muscle issues, so that might be a small concern but really we have no one to play behind Tulo and are paying him a f*** of a lot more and his history is more than spotty too.

 

Blue Jays high perf. Dept can only help too. A lot of those soft tissue injuries should be avoidable with proper training.

[crmr]

Hes a decent signing for a utility role. I'm sure Jays will be limiting his playing time if he's injury prone. For the money the signed him for I don't think they expect too much from him other than better hitting against left handed hitting and playing occasional 2nd base and first base. Don't see him to play outfield all that much. Anyone that thinks he's going to be an everyday outfielder is kidding themselves. Its a good signing but isn't a great one

 

Great post, I kind of hope it's true. But, if we can get a full year of 2 war ball from him then that's good for 6 million/year. Seems close to the best we can hope for, but I think it explains the optimism on this forum as that's pretty good

 

I'm concerned with his age though, what kind of decline to players get each year in their 33 to 34 and 34 to 35 season? Does anybody know?

[Jimcanuck]

for the cost, awesome signing and Jays aren't done

 

hold on to the prospects and get a bunch more next year, future looks bright

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

I just had flashbacks of Brandon Morrow.

 

Are you ok? Shall I call someone... This seems like a cry for help! Gov Gov Gov do not go into the night so gently! Who will brighten our day with fireworks if not you! Lol

[admin]

Great signing.

[Ultimate]

Lets just take a look at Pearce's true injury history instead of just saying "he can't stay healthy"

 

May 2010 Sprained Ankle, landed him on the 60 day, cost him his entire season

May 30, 2011 Calf tear, activated July 22, 2011

August 23 2011 Fractured Right finger missed the rest of the season.

June 21 2013 Left wrist tenderness activated July 31, 2013, back on the DL August 31st and activated Sept 17.

July 22, 2015 strained left oblique, activated August 20

June 21, 2016 Strained Hamstring, Activated July 19

Sept 18, 2016 strained flexor mass in right elbow

 

It's not a pretty history...but really there haven't been repeat issues. If they are good with his right elbow...then I wouldn't worry. He has a history of muscle issues, so that might be a small concern but really we have no one to play behind Tulo and are paying him a f*** of a lot more and his history is more than spotty too.

 

Logically your argument makes sense. But I remember hearing similar arguments for Brandon Morrow back in the day.

[tpurewal97]

Good signing , Hope we get Fowler and make some schrewd sigings on RP. Would love to sign one of Tyson Ross / Nathan Eovaldi also.

[tpurewal97]

Some RP that could be intriguing :

 

Luke Hochevar

Kevin Jepsen

Boone Logan

Joe Smith

Koji Uehara

[P2F]

Eovaldi is out for all of 2017 and Ross is most likely ineffective going forward, thanks to TOS.

[tpurewal97]

would be decent buy low candidates ^

[Laika]

Some RP that could be intriguing :

 

Luke Hochevar

Kevin Jepsen

Boone Logan

Joe Smith

Koji Uehara

 

Good names.

 

Logan and Koji could get significant money.

 

I think Jepsen is probably just bad now. I like Hochevar a lot

[Bobthe4th]

It's not a pretty history...but really there haven't been repeat issues. If they are good with his right elbow...then I wouldn't worry. He has a history of muscle issues, so that might be a small concern but really we have no one to play behind Tulo and are paying him a f*** of a lot more and his history is more than spotty too.

 

We've still got Barney and for the moment Goins for SS.

 

I do agree we'd be in trouble if Tulo missed >50 games though, he's such a key player.

[FrozenRopes]

Still would like Fowler or Granderson, or both.

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

We've still got Barney and for the moment Goins for SS.

 

I do agree we'd be in trouble if Tulo missed >50 games though, he's such a key player.

 

Think if Donaldson missed 50 it would be more then just Trouble! Yikes